Dog Ownership Declines In Japan

In Japan, dogs have been the most popular pet since the middle 1990s. However, cats are now the most popular pet in Japan, and their numbers are growing.

The Year of the Dog is approaching for those in Asian countries. In light of the upcoming Year of the Dog, the Japanese Pet Food Association decided to take a survey of roughly 50,000 households in Japan to see what type of pet, if any, was in the home. The results came as a surprise.

The number of dogs owned by the Japanese public fell by 436,000. That is a drastic reduction that leaves the number of dogs in Japan at approximately 8.9 million. On the other hand, the number of cats rose. The survey revealed that the number of cats owned in Japan rose by 216,000. This brings the number of cats owned in Japan to 9,526,000.

According to the survey, the number of dogs has been declining slightly throughout the years. The number of cats was about at the same level. This year, the numbers made a drastic move.

There are a couple of different factors that may be responsible for this shift in pet ownership. The average age of the Japanese population is increasing. As the population ages, there are more people who do not want to take on the responsibilities that come with dog ownership. Unlike cats, dogs have to be taken out for walks each day.

Many Japanese still want to experience the friendship and companionship of having an animal in the house, so former dog owners have shifted over to having cats. They are viewed as easier to take care of. Also, cats are generally less expensive to feed.

As the Japanese population continues to age, the disparity between dog and cat ownership is expected to increase. However, there will still be a substantial number of dogs in Japan for the years to come.

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